Hair serums can be equated with a 3 am pal — a solution for you at the oddest hour. Whether it’s a last-minute party, a work meeting, or a date around town and you’re having a bad hair day, this is the 10-second fix. Just a small pump or a few drops, and you are smooth and well-groomed again. That’s what a hair serum does for you. Celebrities love it, beauty brands are clocking huge sales with it, and this is the go-to product to give you that cool hair flips on Instagram.

If you know what a face serum is like, this is similar. Dolly Kumar, cosmetic engineer and founder of Cosmic Nutracos, says, “Just like skin serums rejuvenate and cover your skin, hair serums are formulated with active constituents to reach the roots of your hair in a more effective way. They control frizz, can be used while styling, and act as protection from environmental raiders. While oils nourish the scalp, serums work on the surface, adding shine to your hair and you can consider them quick fixes or a replacement for your conditioners.”

 

She adds, “The active constituents and nutrients present in serums not only promote healthy-looking hair but also revive dormant hair follicles, which encourages hair growth.” While a hair serum is for everyone, there’s also a distinct way to use it. Kumar advises, “Always apply the hair serum evenly from the ends up to the middle, on freshly-washed, damp hair. It helps replenish lost lipids and makes hair lubricated and manageable, thereby preventing cuticular damage. A huge benefit is also protection against pollution and heat as it adds a layer of protection to your hair. But avoid applying the serum to your roots or using too much product, as this can make your hair look greasy.”

 

Call it a success story or an idea that had been long coming, but the market for hair serums is booming. Key brands have swung into this space. There’s The Body Shop’s Ginger Scalp Serum that soothes dryness and itchiness and fends off flakes, Kosmoderma Hair Gen Serum with biomimetic peptides and ceramides that help fortify hair, Juicy Chemistry’s Scalp Stimulating Serum with white tea and grapeseed that activates the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, Mamaearth’s Onion Scalp Serum with biotin, and more. Anshul Aggarwal, founder and CEO, Derma Totale, explains why their hair serum is a game-changer. “Totale Hair Growth Serum has the award-winning procapil, which is known to strengthen the follicle and prevent hair loss while boosting hair growth by 121%.” There are also hair serums with UV protection from Earth Collective and Dot & Key.

 

It’s becoming increasingly common to see celebrities, A-listers, and influencers flaunt their glossy, shiny manes in every post and story online, driving up sales for nourishing hair products like this. And that’s not the only reason for its success. Saurabh Srivastava, director & head, Amazon Fashion India, notes, “One of the significant aspects driving the hair serum market demand is increased interest in self-care and the shift towards advanced forms of skin and hair care. A serum is also very easy to use and it doesn’t limit a person to indoor activities, as the typical hair oil does. We are also seeing a shift to products that are chemical-free and provide naturally-sourced ingredients.”

So guys, are you now thinking about how to pick the right serum for your hair? Ameesha Mahajan, consultant cosmetic dermatologist at RM Aesthetics, shares pointers on picking the right serum for your hair concern. She says, “For anti-hair fall and as a growth promoter, opt for serums containing the containing capixyl, procapil, or redensyl. To reduce tangles and frizz, go for a leave-in serum that contains argan oil or silicones. Those with an oily scalp can opt for hair serums with tea tree. The weather also matters, so when it’s hot and humid, water-based or silicon-based serums are ideal, and for dry, cold weather, oil or cream-based serums are generally preferred.”